Refrigerant-compressor-control manifold



April 29, 1930. J. c. scovEl., JR

REFRIGERANT COMPRESSOR CONTROL MANIFOLD 2 sheets-sheet 1 Filed Omi5 9, 1928 April 29,` 1930. J. c. SCOVEL, JR 1,756,571

REFRIGERANT COMPRESSOR CONTROL MANIFOLD Filed oct. 9, 1928 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented Apr. 29, 1930 JOHN C. SCO'VEL, JR., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIG-NOR TO THE CREAMFRY PACKAGE MFG. COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS REFRIGERANT-COMPRESSOB-CONTROL MANIFOLD Application filed October 9, V1922.8. Serial No. 311,327.

compressor for controlling the flow of refrigerant fluid to and from the compressor, and

more particularly relates to the compact til structural arrangement of the several devices for convenient manipulation.

In mechanical refrigerating apparatus,

there are commonly installed with the comf' pressor a pair of hand valves` respectively controlling the suction line and discharge line connections to the compressor, a pair of valve-controlled by-pass connections respec-v tively from the compressor discharge port to the suction line and from the compressor suction port to the discharge line, a device for trapping oil out of the discharged refrigerant with means for returning it to the compressor, a device for trapping pipe scale out ofthe refrigerant returned through the suction line, and a pair of gauges respectively indicating pressures in the suction line and discharge line. These several devices ordinarily comprise independent structural units with numerous pipe connections and fittings, forming a confusing arrangement for manipulation by an operator, and occupying a considerable space about the compressor.

The obj ect of this invention is to provide a unitary control manifold structure in which is incorporated the functions of all of the above enumerated devices, of compact form, and in arrangement readily discernible 'and easy of manipulation.` Another object is to provide such a manifold of simple construction wherein many of theV pipe and fitting joints ordinarily required are avoided. Further objec-ts and advantages will be apparent in the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, Fig.1 represents a Vside view in elevation of the structure of the intion to the top wall 5.

irregular line 5 5 in'Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a partial view in front elevation taken on the plane of the line 6 in Fig. 2. Y

` Referring to the drawings, the reference numerals 1 to Ginclusive indicate respectively the front, rear, right side, left side, top, and bottom walls of a hollow body structure, having within the lower portion a horizontal full partition wall 7, and within the upper portion a horizontal Vhalf partition wall 8. A. laterally extending vert-icalr partition wall 9 divides the space between the bottom wall 6 and the partition 7, and another laterally eX- tending vertical partition wall 10 joins the inner edge of the half partition 8 and the top wall 5. The several walls indicated'form within the body structure an upper rear chamber 11, a lower rear chamber 12, a lower front chamber 13, and an intermediate chamber 14 extending upwardly in A fianged tubular fitting 15, preferably integral with the rear wall of the body, coinniunicates through opening 16 with the chamber 11, and is adapted for connection with the discharge port of the compressor; A similar fitting 17.,`communicating through opening 18 with the chamber 12, is adapted for connection with the suction port of the compressor. A. port opening 19 through the partition 10 establishes communication between thel chamber 11 and the upper portion of the intermediate chamber 14, the latter communieating with the discharge line to the refrigerant condenser through a pipe connection 20 entering the upper wall of the body structure. A port opening 21 through the partition 9 establishes communication between the rear chamber 12 and the front chamber 13,.

the latter communicating with the suction line fromv the refrigerant expansion coils through va pipe connectionV 22 entering-the side wall 4 of the body structure.V

The ports 19 and 21 are controlledrespectively by a pair of stop valves 22 and 23 of conventional construction for use with refrigerant gas and comprising in each case a valve disc 24 adapted to be operatively` seated upon marginal seatsprovided about the respective ports, and having guide wings 25 extending its front porinto the port openings. Each valve disc 24 is supported on a stem 26 carrying a hand wheel 27, the stem being operatively supported in a tion is aided by a baille plate v31 extending across the upper extremity of the chamber 14 between the port 19 and the outlet connection 20. Y rl'hus, the high pressure gas passing the port 19 strikes eitherthe plate 31er the outer walls of the chamber before escaping through the connection 20, such impact edecting the deposit of the oil particles carried by the gas within the chamber 14. The accumulations of oil in the chamber 14 may be dischargedperiodically into the suction cham-Y I' ber 12 through a passage 32 opening through the partition wall 7 and controlled bya conventional hand valve 33 having its valve disc 34 positioned in the passage 32. From the suction chamber 12, the oil is drained back to the compressor crank case through a pipe connection indicated at 35.

The lower front or antechamber 13 accommodates a scaletrapcomprising a tubular screen 36 positioned in continuation of the suction line inlet connection 22 and supported in suitable openings in the opposite lateral walls 3 and 4'of the body, as indicated at 37 and 38. The tubular screen 36 serves to retain any scale entering the antechamber 13 from the suction lineV 22, and the screen may be endwardly removed for cleaning through the opening 38. The screen is normally held in position, andthe opening 33 outwardly sealed, bya removable cap 39 se'- cured to the body wall as by cap screws 40.

A safety kby-pass connection is providedk between the high-pressure discharge chamber 11 and the low-pressure or vacuumV-antechamber 13*.the latter being in constantly open communication Vwith the suction line 22-comprising a. passage 41 contained'in a kbox structure'42 formed outwardly of the side wallf3 of the body and preferably integral therewith, the lower end of thepassage 41 communicating with the antechamber -13 by an opening 43 through the side wall '3. rlhe upper end of the passage 41 enters a recess 44 formed in the structure 42Vv and communicating with the Vdischarge chamber 11 by an opening throughthe body side wall The lopening 45. is controlled by a con- VYyentional refrigerant'V safety valve'comprising a valve disc 46 operativelyseated rupon themargin of the opening45 and resiliently retained thereupon by an. adjustablespring actuated mechanism 47 housed in a bonnet 48 removably secured to the structure 42 as by cap screws 49. Upon the building up of excessive pressure in the chamber 11, or in the high pressure side of the system with the stop valve 22 normally open, the disc 46 is automatically unseated and the excessive pressure is relieved by discharge through the passage 41 into the suction or low side of the system. z Y

1n making repairs to expansion coils or return lines of the refrigerant circulating` system, it is necessary only to close a valve Y commonly providedbetween the condensed liquid receiver and the expansion coils and pump the refrigerant out of the suction or low side ofthe system over into the condenser and liquid receiver bytheV operation ofthe compressor with the control connections in normal operating relation. If repairs are to be made upon the condenser or other part vof the so called high side of the system, it

becomes necessary to'reverse the normal control connections and operate the compressor `to pump the refrigerant out of the high side conventional hand valve 53 suitably securedA in the structure 42 and having a valvedisc 54 operatively seated upon Va marginal valve seat provided about the opening 52. v A passage 55, provided in a similar box structure 56 formedupon the opposite side wall 4 of the body, communicates at its upper end with the. intermediate or oil trap chamber 14 and vdischarge linev20 by the opening 57 through the wallet, the lower end of t1 inunicating with the suction chamber 12 by the 'opening 53 through the wall 4. The passage is intermediately divided by an intercommunicating port opening 59, `the latter being controlledV by a conventional hand valve 60 suitably secured in the structure 56 anc having a valve disc 61 operatively seated Vupon a-marginal valve seat provided about the opening 59.

In normal operation, the stop valves22 and 23 are in open position andthe by-pass valves 53 and'6() are closed. In orderto pump out `the high sides of the system, the stopvalves ne passage com-` 22 and 23 are closedand the 1oy-pass valves 53 Y and 60 are opened; Then, communication between chambers 11 and 14 is closed, asis Y also closed the normal communication berand 41 and the antechamber 13, thus enabling the pumping of the refrigerant out of the discharge line into the suction line by the norvmal operation of the compressor.

Provision for the-mounting upon the inanifold body of conventional gauges, for indicating pressure in the discharge line and in the suction line respectively, is madeby the pipe connection 62 entering the wall 3 and communicating with the oil trap chamber 14, and by the pipe connection 63 entering the outer wall of the structure 42 and communicating through the passage 41 with the antechamber 18.

It will here be apparent that I have provided in a compact unitary manifold structure all of the functions necessary to the operating control of a refrigerant compressor, in accessible arrangement for convenient manipulation.

I claim as my invention:

1. A device of the class described, comprising a manifold body having a suction chamber, an antechamber, a discharge chamber and an oil trap chamber, and having a by-pass passage connecting said discharge chamber with said antechamber and a by-pass passage connecting said oil trap chamber with said suction chamber, said body having a port interconnecting said suction chamber and said antechamber and a port interconnecting said discharge chamber and said oil trap chamber, said body having means for the connection of said suction chamber and said discharge chamber respectively with the suction port and the discharge port of a refrigerant compressor, and having means for the connection of said antechamber and said oil trap chamber respectively With the suction line and the discharge line of a refrigerant circulating system, and valve means for severally controlling said by-pass passages and said interconnecting ports.

2. A device of the class described, comprising a manifold body having a suction chamber, an antechamber, a discharge chamber and an oil trap chamber, and having a pressure relief passage connecting said discharge chamber with said antechamber, a by-pass passage connecting said discharge chamber with said antechamber and a by-pass passage connecting said oil trap chamber with said suction chamber, said body having an intercommunicating port between said suction chamber and said antechamber and a similar port between said discharge chamber and said oil trap chamber, said bodyY having means for the connection of said suction chamber and said discharge chamber respectively with the suction port and the discharge port of a refrigerant compressor, and having means for the Yconnection of said antechamber and said oil trap chamber respectively with the suction line and the discharge line of a refrigerant circulating system, and valve means for severally controlling said relief passage, said by-pass passages and said intercommunicating ports.

1m3. A device of the class described, comprising a manifold body having a suction chamber, an antechamber, a discharge vchamber and an oil trap chamber and having a bypass passa-ge connecting said discharge chamber with said antechamber, a by-pass passagel connecting said oil'trap chamber With said suction chamber and an oil passage connecting said oil trap chamber vvithsaid suction chamber, said body having a port interconnecting said suction chamberand said antechamber and a port interconnecting said discharge chamber and said oil trap chamber,

said body having means for the connection of said suction chamber and said discharge chamber respectively with-'the suction port and the discharge port of a refrigerant compresser, and having means for the connection of said antechamber and said oil trap chamber respectively with the suction line and 'pressure' relief lpassage connecting said discharge chamber with said antechamber, a bypass passage connecting said discharge cham-` berwith said antechamber, a by-pass passage connecting said oil trap chamber with said suction chamber and an oil passage connectving said oil Vtrap chamber-with said suction chamber, "said body having an `intercom- Vinunicating port between said suction chamber and said antechamber and a similarport between said discharge chamber and said oil trap chamber, said body having means for the connection of said suction chamber and said discharge chamber vrespectively with 'the suction port and the discharge port offa refrigerant1 compressor, and having means for the connection of said antechamberand said oil trap chamber respectively with the suction line and the discharge line of airefor severally controlling said'relief passage, said-oil passages, said by-pass passages andV said intercommunicating ports.

5. A device ofthe class described comprisj frigerant circulating system,andva;lve means ing a manifold body having a suction chamber, an ,antecliamber, aI ,i discharge Vchamber V and an oil trap chamber, and havinga valvecontrolled oil outletf'rom said oil trap cham- 4f' d. of Va refrigerant circulating system, and a ber, said body having a valve-controlled port Y interconnecting said suction chamber and said antechamber and a valve-controlled port interconnecting said discharge chamber and said oil trap chamber,said body having means for the connection of said suction chamber and said discharge chamber respectively With the suction port and the discharge port of a refrigerant compresscr,and having means for the connection of said antechamber and said oil trap chamber respectively Withthe suction line and the discharge line of a refrigerant circulating system. Y 6. A device of the class described comprising a manifold body'having a suction chamber, an antechamber, adischarge chamber `and anl oil trap chamber, said body having a valve-controlled port interconnecting said suction chamber and said antechamber and a valve-controlled port interconnecting said discharge chamber and said oil :trap y.chamber, said body having means for the connection of said antechamber and said oil trap chamber respectively Withv the suction line and the discharge line of a refrigerant circulating system, and means in said ante- `chamber for trapping scale entering Vsaid antechamber from said suction line.

7. A. device of the class described comprising a manifold body having a suction chamber, an antechamber, a discharge chamber and an oil trap chamber, and having a valvecontrolled oil outlet from said oil trap chamber, sai'd body having a valve-controlled port interconnecting said suction chamber and said antechainber and a valve-controlled port interconnecting said discharge chamber and said oil trap chamber, said body having means for the connection of said suction chamber and said discharge chamber respectively With the suction port and the discharge port of a refrigerant compressor, and having means for the connection of said antecham- Vpassage connecting, said oil trap chamberk ber and said oil trap chamber respectively With the suction line and the discharge line screen vpositioned in said antechamber about the-connection With said suction line for retaining scale entering fromfsai'd suction line.

8. A device of the class described, comprising a manifold body having a suction chamber, vvan antechamber, a discharge chamber and-anoil trap chamber, and having a bypass passage connecting said discharge chamber With said antechamber anda by-pass llt withsaid'suction chamber, saidbody having I l a port interconnecting 4said suction chamber and said anterchamber vand a port interconnecting said discharge chamber'and said-oil trap chamber, said body'having means for the connection of said suction chamber and said discharge chamber respectively With the 'suction-port and the discharge `port of a refrigerant compressor, and having means for 

